just fic

Title: A Night In
Author:LaLa247
Posted: 05-29-2002
Email:
Rating: PG
Note: It's corny, but enjoy!
Summary: Angel and Cordelia spend a little time together indoors.


Angel was going mad. Yes, going mad. It wasn't like he hadn't before. But this was different. This wasn't Darla mad. This wasn't Buffy mad. This was loony mad. This was tear-out-your-hair mad. This was irrationally mad. This was 'major wiggage' mad. And all because of one person. Her. The Seer. The beautiful, funny, honest, wonderful Seer. The woman who made himself and his other friends sweat. The one for whom they fought each other for her affections. The one whose smile made him stop in his tracks. The one who made him stutter. The one who could break him down with a single biting sentence. The one who made him feel alive. Happy. Damn her and her unintentional ways.

"Angel!" Angel's head jolted up. He had been daydreaming. Damn. Cordelia looked at him, hand on hip, a less than blithe look on her perfect face. "Dammit, Angel, I asked you a question!"

Angel sat up in his chair. "I'm sorry, Cordelia. What is it?"

Cordelia sighed and ran a hand through her short, blonde-streaked hair. "I said, do you want to share my spaghetti when Gunn and Wes come back? I don't think I'm that hungry and-"

"Sure." Too quick. Damn. Cordelia raised a perfectly-arched eyebrow at him and walked to her desk. Tight black pants, high-heeled boots, tight sheer black shirt, black bra. Did she know what she was doing? Working with 3 men, the only woman. Dressing like that? This was torture. Yes, she knew exactly what she was doing. Good, God. Angel stared at her, in awe. No one made him feel this way. Not even the Slayer. She never took his breath away (so to speak) like Cordelia. She never made him smile or laugh like Cordelia did. He felt like more of a person, a man, when Cordelia was around. Cordelia made him-

"Angel!" Damn. Did it again. Cordelia leaned in front of him, hands on his desk. "Angel, are you high? Sick? Mental?"

Angel forced a smile. "I'm really sor-"

She held up a hand. "Apologize again, and I stake you." she frowned. "What's your deal? You okay?"

He nodded. "Just thinking. When you've been alive for 248 years, you start to think. A-About um, taxes....and the meaning of life...of course, I've already lived a couple of times, so it gives me something to think about." He flinched at his own bad joke.

Cordelia smiled. Wait- she smiled? At his joke? Oh my- "I figured. You had that look in your eyes. Kinda blank, but not Angelus blank. But a good blank. You look cute when you're blank." she giggled. "Okay, not making sense, I'll zip it."

Angel smiled slowly. "You think I look cute?"

Cordelia shrugged. "Sure. Just don't let it go to your head, Broody." His grin grew. "And keep doing that."

"Doing what?"

Cordelia grinned. "Smiling. It suits you." She looked down suddenly. Sheepishly. Once again, that awful silence followed.

"I-I haven't thought of Buffy in a year." He suddenly blurted out. Oh my God. Where the hell did that come from? Her head jolted up. And then came the look. The Look. The you-are-so-weird look. OhGodOhGodOhGodOhGod-

"Well, good for you. What do you want, a medal?" She retorted curtly.

Angel lowered his head slightly. That was a bad move. Never discuss Buffy in front of Cordelia. She was considered 'Bad' Sunnydale. She deemed Buffy responsible for every bad thing to happen to herself and Angel. Buffy made Angel act the way he did. Buffy did it then moved on. Buffy moved on to other guys and left him with that pain and guilt. Buffy made Cordelia feel horrible. Because she had to see him every day. Looking like that. "I'm sorry. I-I-"

She rolled her eyes and turned to walk away. Angel reached over and grabbed her wrist. Cordelia turned back, staring at his hand. "Yes?"

Angel stood up, not letting go of her wrist. He circled the desk until he was face to face with her. "I didn't mean it like that. I-It's a good thing. I've moved on, I guess."

Cordelia lowered her head. "You still love her." She said matter-of-factly.

Angel shook his head. "I-I don't think so. She's Sunnydale. My past." He swallowed hard. And went for the kill. "You're Los Angeles. You're now." She looked at him, her eyes boring into his. He gripped her wrist tighter. And melted. She did so much to him. "Cordy, I meant what I said. I meant what I said at the movie. I meant what I said at the club. And I mean what I say now. I need you. I can't live without you. You are part of me."

Cordelia frowned. "Angel. Don't. It's-"

Angel moved closer, until her the back of her legs hit the desk. He looked at her earnestly. "I don't think you understand, Cordy. I've been fighting this for almost 3 years now. I can't fight it anymore. I'm not strong enough. I-I see you, and I can't hide it. My feelings, my-" He was in love with her. Damn. Angel lowered his head, so their foreheads were touching. "Please, Cordelia, say something."

Cordelia didn't say a word. Instead, she pulled him to her, and kissed him. Her arm around his neck. The other, breaking from his grip and wrapping over his shoulder. Angel felt his composure leave him, and he kissed her back, lovingly. He wrapped his arms around her waist, and pulled her tighter. The silence filling the hotel lobby was deafening. The kisses grew more intense, more hungry. He started to push her onto the desk when-

"We're back!" Boomed Gunn's voice from outside. The two immediately separated. Cordelia sat on the desk smoothing down her hair. Angel flew to the couch and jumped on it just as Wesley and Gunn entered. "We got every Italian food on the planet, We got-" Gunn eyed Angel, sprawled rather unconventionally on the couch. "You okay?"

Angel nodded and cleared his throat. "Uh- yeah. I'm- I'm just.....uncomfortable?" He quickly adjusted himself, sitting up.

Both Wesley and Gunn peered at him oddly as the set down the bags. Cordelia let out a breath and walked to the two men. "You got my spaghetti?"

Wesley smiled at the Seer. "Of course. We also got-" He looked at her. "Are you alright Cordelia?" She nodded.

Gunn looked her up and down "Girl, you could hurt someone in that outfit! Damn!" Cordelia giggled and smacked him playfully. Angel felt like smacking him too.

Wesley sat next to Angel, handing him a aluminum package. "Your pasta." Angel grabbed it, not taking his eyes off Gunn. Cordelia walked past him to the kitchen, their eyes meeting for a second. Of course, Wesley noticed. "Cordelia is a wonderful girl, isn't she?"

Angel slowly smiled. "She sure is."

Wesley smirked. "I thought you would agree...You have something on your face." Angel touched his face. "Lipstick, Angel?"

Angel quickly wiped his face. Wesley chuckled. Gunn sat next to them. "What's so funny?" he asked through a mouthful of garlic bread.

Wesley took a bite of his pasta. "Our friend over here has appeared to have gained a lady friend."

Gunn raised an eyebrow. "Word?"

Angel innocently looked up at the two, then smiled. "I told her. She likes me too. I think." he said quietly.

Gunn grinned and elbowed his friend. "Of course she does! Damn boy, what took you so long?!" The vampire blushed slightly. "So when's the wedding? You gonna have a nice, bright, wedding? On the beach? I could see the children now. Her eyes and mouth. Your nose and fangs-" Angel shoved him. Wesley and Gunn laughed. After a moment, Angel joined them.

Cordelia sat across from them "What's so funny?"

"Nothing." The three men responded.

End.